Wheel aligner



C. A. HINK WHEEL ALIGNER Aug. 14, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1932 I n en for (hr/6.54 97? 0 s ML.

fl Home y Aug, 14, 1934. H|NK I 1,970,092

WHEEL ALIGNER Filed Oct. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cal Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WHEEL ALIGNER Charles A. Hink, Grinnell, Iowa Application October 20, 1932, Serial No. 638,798 3 Claims. (01. 33-203) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in implements for determining misalignment of vehicle wheels.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an implement or tool which in operation will be partly automatic and which in construction is simple, permitting the manufacture at low cost.

During the course of the following specification, various objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 represents aside elevational view of the implement engaging a pair of vehicle wheels.

Fig. 2 represents an inside elevational view of a vehicle wheel showing the various positions of the implement in engaging wheels.

Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal sectional view through the implement.

Fig. 4 represents a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents a cross sectional .view taken substantially on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 represents a cross sectional view taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

- Fig. 7 represents a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view of the implement showing the blade spaced from the collar.

Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary longitudinal enlarged sectional view of the same portion as shown in Fig. '7, showing the sleeve and collar interlapping.

Fig. 9 represents a cross sectional view taken I substantially on line 9-9 ofFig. 8.

Fig. 10 represents a sectional view through one endof one of the pointed rods.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents an elongated barrel which has a cross pin 6 therein against which one end of the spring '7 bears, or is secured.

Extending into one end of the barrel 5 is the rod 8 which at its outer end portion has an oifset 9 and an extended portion 10 recessed to receive the pointed pintle 11. This end of the barrel 5 is provided with a cap 12 and this end portion of the barrel is slotted as at 13 to receive the screw 14 which extends from the slidable tube 15 on this end portion of the barrel 5 to anchor in the aforementioned rod 8. Thus, by loosening the screw 14, the tube 15 can be slid to permit adjustment of the rod 8.

A rod 16 projects into the opposite end of the barrel 5 and against the free end of the spring 7. Numeral 17 represents a sleeve having a reduced extension 18. A screw 19 is disposed through an opening in the sleeve and extends through the longitudinal slot 20 in this end of the barrel 5 to thread into the aforementioned rod 16.

Telescoping the reduced extension 18 of the sleeve 17 is the counter-bored extension 21 of the collar 22 which has an internal circumferentially extending channel receiving the split spring ring 23. This ring serves as a friction element for retaining the collar in shifted position on the barrel 5.

The reduced extension 18 of the sleeve 17 has circumferentially extending lines or graduations 24 thereon. The outer end of the rod,16 has an offset 25 and an extended portion 26 having a recess therein containing the protruding pointed pin 27.

The cap 28 at this end of the barrel 5has a chain section 29 depending therefrom as has the cap 20 at the opposite end of the barrel.

It can now be seen, that the rod 8 at the right hand end of the barrel 5 in Fig. 3 is first set and secured. The gauge is now compressed and placed so that the pintles are applied to the inner sides of the front tires as in position A in Fig. 2. The chain sections 29 are approximately eight inches long and their lowermost links are barely permitted to touch the ground. The pintles are permitted to seat themselves in the side walls of the tires to insure against the tool slipping. It should be noted that the normal length of the aligner should be about two inches more than the width between the inner sides of the front tires, said length being secured by means of the adjusting screw 14.

The vehicle is now moved forward until the aligner reaches position B in Fig. 2. While in this position sleeve 17 shows that it has moved away from collar 22 due to the camber of the wheels and to the bulge in the tire side walls adjacent the ground caused by the weight of the car. At this time collar 22 is manually moved to the right so as to fit snugly against sleeve 17 so as to entirely cover the graduated portion 18 which is the reduced extension of sleeve 1'7.

The vehicle is now moved forward until the aligner reaches position C. During this movement collar 22 is forced tothe left or outwardly by the pressure of the spring '7 acting through 16 and 17. At position C, with the pendants just touching the ground, the gauge will be in a closed position with collar 22 fitting snugly against sleeve 1'1. The zero setting has now been automatically obtained by collar 22 which maintains its position by means of the friction spring 23.

The vehicle is now moved backward until the aligner is again in position A, noting that the pendants should just touch the floor. The number of calibrations 24 on the reduced extension 18 of the 'sleeve 17 which are now visible indicate the amount of toe-in present in the alignment of the front wheels. In case no gap is showing between the collar 22 and sleeve 17, this indicates that the wheels are either in parallel condition or they toe out. The toe-out can now be determined by moving the vehicle so that the aligner returns to position C. The device is first positioned to start at A because of the accessibility of this location as compared with position C, and at position C the device is accessible for setting the indicator at zero so that it is unnecessary for the operator to reach under the car at the rear of the front wheels.

In case it is found that adjustment of the wheels is necessary, the vehicle is moved so as to place the aligner in position A. With the aligner remaining in this position all adjustments to the tie rod of the front axle are made. It should be noted that the position of the collar 22 in relation to sleeve 17 is visible from either the front or back positions thus allowing the operator to make necessary adjustments without leaving his position.

The foregoing description covers the use of said aligner on the front wheels of the vehicle.

It is obvious that the said aligner can be usedin a similar way to check the alignment of the rear wheels.-

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. An aligning tool comprising an elongated barrel having a tire engaging portion at one end, a slidable member at the opposite end of said barrel slidably engaged into said barrel, a spring in the barrel anchored at one end and having its opposite end impinging against the inner end of the slidable member, a sleeve on the outside of the barrel secured to the slidable member, and having graduations thereon, a collar on the barrel adapted for telescopic engagement with the sleeve, said collar being adapted to be moved on the barrel by the said sleeve in one direction by the abutting engagement of a portion of said sleeve with a'portion of said collar.

2. An aligning tool comprising an elongated barrel having a tire engaging portion at one end, a slidable member at the opposite end of said barrel slidably engaged into said barrel, a spring in the barrel anchored at one end and having its opposite end impinging against the inner end of the slidable member, a sleeve on the outside of the barrel secured to the slidable member and having graduations thereon, a collar on the barrel adapted for telescopic engagement with the ,sleeve, said collar being adapted to be moved on the barrel by the said sleeve, said collar having friction means thereon for engaging the said barrel in one direction by the abutting engagement of a portion of said sleeve with a portion of said collar.

3. An aligning tool comprising an elongated barrel having a tire engaging portion at one end,

-a slidable member at the opposite end of said barrel slidably engaged into said barrel, a spring in the barrel anchored at one end and having its opposite end impinging against the inner end of the slidable member, a sleeve on the outside of the barrel secured to the slidable member, and having graduations thereon, a collar on the barrel adapted for telescopic engagement with the sleeve, said collar being adapted to be moved on the barrel by the said sleeve in one direction by the abutting engagement of a portion of said sleeve with a portion of said collar, and a depending chain section at each end of the barrel for gauging the elevation of the implement while in use.

CHARLES A. I-HNK. 

